Page 180 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

“Hello, Katrina.” He smiled. “You look great.”

“Thanks.” She smiled back shyly.

Hugo greeted Aaron and Nate, then looked at Anna. “Ready?”

Anna nodded. She hurried to her room to retrieve her purse and returned to the living room.

Hugo opened the door and they said goodbye to Aaron and Nate. “Do you like Italian?” Hugo asked as they made their way to the elevator.

“Yes.” Butterflies flitted in Anna’s stomach. Was this a date? She shook her head. They were going to talk about a schedule for the next week. That’s it. And she wasn’t ready to get involved with anyone yet.

Hugo and Anna settled into a table in the corner of a small Italian restaurant across town. Or at least that’s where Anna thought they were. New York was so different from her San Francisco.

“So how come you’re not going on tour?” Hugo asked after they had ordered their entreés.

“I—‍” Anna hesitated. “I can’t travel right now.”

“Oh? Why not?”

Anna’s eyes widened. How did she answer that? “I... just can’t.”

“Are you sick?”

Anna shook her head.

“Are you a criminal?” He grinned.

Anna smiled and shook her head again.

“Are you...” He squinted his eyes in thought. “A secret spy undercover as a dancer who has duties here in New York?”

Anna laughed. “No.”

“Are you going to tell me, or should I give up now?”

Anna grinned and then wagged her eyebrows. “I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.” She gave him a sly look.

Hugo leaned his head back and laughed. “Alright, alright. I give up.”

“So, why aren’t you going?”

“My mother broke her leg a few weeks ago, and I need to keep an eye on her.”

“Oh, no! How did she break it?”

Hugo chuckled. “Skiing.” He rolled his eyes. “I warned her that a sixty-five-year-old woman shouldn’t be skiing, but she didn’t listen. She’s a bit stubborn.”

Anna laughed again. “Are you disappointed you can’t go?”

“I love traveling, but it’ll give some of the younger dancers a chance to take roles not normally available.” He shrugged. “Do you like to travel?”

Anna paused. “I suppose it depends on the activities involved and who I’m with.”

“Interesting answer. You’ve traveled with unpleasant people?”

Anna shrugged. “You could say that.”

“Where have you gone?”

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